The University of Gloucestershire is a public university based in Gloucestershire, England. It is located over four campuses; two in Cheltenham and two in Gloucester.
The university is the successor of a large number of merged, name-changed and reformed institutions of further and higher education. Its history spans nearly two centuries. The university was established through two distinct strands of educational provision in Gloucestershire, being that provided by Local Government and that founded by the Anglican Church. The university can trace its earliest history to the Mechanics Institutes of Cheltenham (1834) and Gloucester (1840), and the Cheltenham Training College, which was established in 1847 by the Reverend Francis Close. In 1921, the Cheltenham Training College separated into two schools, St Paul's College of Education and St Mary's College of Education, which eventually merged in 1979. The College of St Paul & St Mary went on to combine with the Gloucestershire College of Arts & Technology in 1990, forming the . In October 2001, the college was awarded university status.
The university provides over 100 undergraduate courses and around 70 taught post-graduate courses within three academic schools.
A 10-year memorandum of understanding exists between the university, Gloucestershire College and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to support access to higher education.
History
Predecessor colleges and institutes
The following are points in the university's history appearing in the timeline. 1834 – Cheltenham Mechanics' InstituteTurner, C M, Thesis (PhD), 'Politics in Mechanics' Institutes 1820–1850', University of Leicester, 1980, Section 2.7.4 'Cheltenham Spa Mechanics Institute', pages 192–207Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London: Victoria County History, Gloucestershire Vol XV Cheltenham and District: Work in Progress, started October 2013. Draft, VCH Glos 15: Cheltenham - Education, pages 27-30: Commentary on the 'University of Gloucestershire and its predecessors' 1840 – Gloucester Mechanics' Institute 1847 – Cheltenham Training College (Church Foundation) 1852 – Cheltenham School of Art 1920 – St Paul's College of Education 1920 – St Mary's College of Education 1959 – Gloucestershire College of Art 1967 – Gloucestershire College of Education (Local Authority College) 1979 – College of St Paul and St Mary 1980 – Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology from four other Local Authority colleges 1990 – Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology (HE) 1990 – Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education 2001 – University of Gloucestershire
From 1992, Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education (CGCHE) was permitted to award first and postgraduate degrees, and in 1998 it achieved research degree-awarding powers. In 2001, the University of Gloucestershire was awarded university status.University of Gloucestershire, 'Service of Thanksgiving' publication on attainment of University title, 30 April 2002, held in Gloucester Cathedral, pages 5–7
Mechanics' Institutes Mechanics' institutes developed in the United Kingdom over the 19th century. A number became the origins of colleges which later became new universities. The Cheltenham Mechanics Institute is associated with a notable historical incident, when a speaker, George Holyoake, became the last person in England convicted for blasphemy after delivering a public lecture at the institute in April 1842.Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London: Victoria County History, Gloucestershire Vol XV Cheltenham and District: Work in Progress, started October 2013. Draft, VCH Glos 15: Cheltenham - Religious History, Version 1.1 April 2019 page 16 of 36: Commentary on the role of Rev Francis Close in the arrest and imprisonment of Holyoake.
Anglican Foundation The Anglican Foundation of the University of Gloucestershire evolved from the Christian Foundation of the former colleges of St. Mary and St. Paul, merged as the College of St Paul and St Mary which united with the higher education courses of the Gloucestershire College of Arts & Technology subsequently to create the university. Until September 2011, Foundation Fellows played a significant role in the governance of the university. Following a review of governance by the university in 2010/11, it was agreed that council should be responsible for appointing all its external members. Foundation Fellows are still eligible to apply to council to become external members.
2001–present day In February 2012 Rennie Fritchie was announced as the new chancellor succeeding Lord Carey of Clifton, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. In late 2023, she was then succeeded by Michael Bichard, Baron Bichard, who currently holds the position. The Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek serves as pro-chancellor. As of August 2023, Clare Kelly Marchant (born ) holds the post of vice-chancellor. Marchant was awarded a damehood for services to higher education in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours.
2009–2011 In 2009–2010 several formerly senior figures in the university resigned. In November 2009, Paul Bowler, the deputy vice-chancellor, resigned shortly after being suspended from his post only seven months after joining the institution. Paul Bowler, a former investment banker who joined Gloucestershire in May 2009, was on a week's leave when he was told not to return to work. On 7 December, a university spokesperson said, "The deputy vice-chancellor Paul Bowler, has resigned. Financial benefits have not been sought by Mr Bowler, who is leaving of his own accord to pursue other interests".Melanie Newman "Deputy leader steps down only seven months after taking up post" The Times Higher Education Supplement, 10 December 2009
In December 2009 Dr. Sharp, dean and associate pro vice-chancellor, following his resignation, took up a post in the new UK Higher Education International Unit.James Everest "It's a wide world" Times Higher Education Supplement, 3 December 2009
The vice-chancellor, Patricia Broadfoot, resigned in March 2010,Melanie Newman "Gloucestershire vice-chancellor steps down" Times Higher Education Supplement, 26 March 2010 during conflicting views on the financial health of the institution.Melanie Newman "Gloucestershire V-C resigns amid conflicting view on financial health" Times Higher Education Supplement, 1 April 2010 The precise circumstances of this resignation and the salary paid to her as recorded in the public accounts have attracted various media attention being the reported highest of all UK vice-chancellors for the year.John Morgan "Identity check: Vice-chancellors' education and pay revealed" Times Higher Education Supplement, 24 March 2011
In May 2010, the chancellor, Lord Carey, resigned.Melanie Newman "Chancellor Follows V-C out at Gloucestershire" Times Higher Education Supplement, 29 May 2010
In September 2010, Paul Bowler was a witness in an employment tribunal case brought by a member of staff of the university under the 'whistleblowing' legislation – the Public Interest Disclosure Act.Simon Baker "Hefce clawback could add to Gloucestershire's woes" Times Higher Education Supplement, 23 September 2010 The tribunal found for the complainant and outcome was reported in the higher education press." Whistleblowing case report John Gill "Tribunal finds in favour of Gloucestershire whistleblower" Times Higher Education Supplement, 1 October 2010
In March 2011, Paul Hartley resigned., 15 March 2011
From 2012 onwards
Stephen Marston, former vice-chancellor, has committed himself to listening to staff concerns.Simon Baker "Gloucestershire v–c tells staff to speak out on past turmoil, 'warts and all'" Times Higher Education Supplement, 4 August 2011 He states 'new culture' being addressed and reports a new senior management human resources appointment."The forecast for Gloucestershire: sunny, open and collaborative" Times Higher Education Supplement, 29 March 2012
Since his appointment the university has been nominated for several awards for student support, including the Times Higher Leadership and Management awards for outstanding student services in 2014 and 2015, and Outstanding Student Support by WhatUni.
In 2015 applications rose by 6%, and the numbers confirming offers of places had increased by 18% when the official UCAS deadline passed.
Campuses The university has four campuses located in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
The Park
The Park, Cheltenham, is the largest of the campuses and is the administrative centre. It is located in the Park district of Cheltenham. The estate dates from the 19th century and was originally designed as zoological, botanical and horticultural gardens.
The Media School was relocated to the Park Campus in 2011 from the former Pittville campus. The new facilities include a newsroom, television & radio studios, edit suites, and teaching facilities. It has been awarded Skillset Media Academy status and is part of the North by Southwest – The Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Skillset Media Academy Partnership.
Student accommodation is available in the Park villas and Challinor located on campus. A partnership with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was launched in May 2009 and the Park Campus grounds became designated as a community green space. The garden includes over 900 trees, both native and ornamental, a shallow lake and a meadow with native species.
Francis Close Hall
Francis Close Hall site includes restored historic buildings close to Cheltenham's town centre. The campus can trace its history back to the Cheltenham Training College founded by the Rev. Francis Close in 1847.
The campus is also home to the university's Special Collections and Archives service, the official repository for the historic records of the university and predecessor institutions. It contains several special collections relating to Gloucestershire and beyond. The department is custodian of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Library, and curates and maintains the Gloucestershire Poets, Writers and Artists Collection, which includes works and artefacts relating to the Dymock Poets, Whittington Press, U. A. Fanthorpe, Michael Henry, James Elroy Flecker and the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail. Other collections include the Local Heritage Initiative Archive. The service is open to staff, students and the public.
The campus has a mix of humanities, education, natural & social science and creative arts, the latter housed in open-plan illustration and landscape architecture studios, with VR technology, 3D printers and model making workshops.
Student accommodation is available at the nearby Pittville Student Village.
Oxstalls
The campus is located in Gloucester and re-opened in 2002. It was closed in August 1993. Following protests about the removal of higher education from the city, a solution was reached with Gloucester City Council. The campus site is from a predecessor college. It was a purpose-built site for the Gloucestershire College of Domestic Science in 1962, called the Gloucestershire Training College, and became renamed as the Gloucestershire College of Education in 1967. The college was closed in 1980 to be part of the merger of four Gloucestershire Colleges in Gloucester and Cheltenham to form Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology. There is a memorial on the north wall of St Paul's Chapel in Gloucester Cathedral to the college which records its founding within the precincts of the cathedral in 1890 and presents its detailed history.The memorial states that the college cared for the chapel from 1928 until the closure of the college in 1980.The archives of Gloucester Cathedral hold details of this memorial and may be obtained from the archivist on request. The details include the coat of arms with the motto Laborare est Orare (which translates as "to work is to pray")